Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16
A STATEMENT AND EXPLANATION


FOR THE BENEFIT or SUBSCRIBERS on THE
JACKSONVILLE STAGE ROUTE.
The frequent complaints which como to
us from the people of jacksonville, and
other towns on the line Of the Jacksonville
stage route, because they do not receive
their papers on Friday, and the inconven-
fence which they are subjected TO on this
account, seem TO require that an explana-
ton should be given. The regular sched-
ue time of the Jacksonville stage for leav-
ing Brattleboro IL one o'clock p. NJ To hit
this mail at this hour would require that
the paper should be put to press at 1890, a
thing which it is impossible 10 do and give,
az The Phoenix now gives, all the local and
general news up TO the hour of publication.
Should il he done much matter would inev-
itably be omitted which the Jacksonville,
Halifax and Guilford people wish 10 see
and are entitled TO see. Up 10 year or
more ago it was the custom Of the stage
driver TO wait ON Fridays, on his own re
sponsibility, until 3 o'clock or $3.50 before
leaving, so as to oblige the people on his
route by carrying the local papers to them
on the day Of publication. This made him
late on his arrival at jacksonville, but as
his delay was not TO oblge himself but the
local public and ns there was no connec-
ton u make at the Jacksonville end, no
body made complaint because everybody
was accommodated When the new Dem
ocratic postmaster came in at Jacksonville,
however, he instituted a reform" by re
porting the driver late when he waited for
the papers on Fridays. This subjected the
driver 10 II fine by the department and in
self-defence he was compelled TO leave Brat
tleboro on Fridays at the usual hour and
thus deprive the people of their papers.
agf m ftaala tn
remedy this by petition 10 the post Office
department praying for an extension Of
the running time on the route and for leave
to make the hour for leaving on Fridays
later-the main thing aimed at by the petit
TONERS being to secure this last named
point. The department promptly refused
TO grant this petition on the ground that
the extension Of time asked for was unrea-
sonable and could not be made under the
contract for carrying this mail. The pub
fishers Of The Phoenix knew that the real
point aimed ut was not understood by the
Second Assistant Postmaster General who
has matters Of this kind in charge, and we
therefore procured "A direct appeal TO be
made 10 him through the Brattleboro office
for a later leaving hour during the sum
mer, and especially on Fridays An an
swer came Immediately back saying that
tlcboro postmaster, the mail carrier, and
the jacksonville postmaster would sign the
schedule sent The two parties first named
gladly signed il, but when the document
came 10 the Jacksonville postmaster that
official refused his signature on the ground
as we understand, that it was an extension
of running time that was wanted. aud that
he did not propose tn sit up until late
hour for the receipt Of the mail. This re
| fusal seemed all the more unreasonable be
cause the hour Of arrival of the mail should
not have been later than the usual hour of
closing business places in villages like Jack
sonVillo, and because under this schedule
the driver would have waited until after
the arrival Of the New York mail at
o'clock 50 that people on his line would have
received New York letters a day earlier
and New York papers ON the day Of their
/ publication, say nothing Of the local papers
ON their publication day. Such an arrange
ment has been in effect all summer, as well
as during several previous summers, on the
| Wilmington route, to the great accommO-
cation and satisfaction of the people on
/ that line
We do not mean to raise any question as
to motives or 10 criticise Mr. Porter's III
| depreciation Of his official duty We sim
| ply think il unfortunate that by means of
tins Interpretation the people Of three towns
have been deprived through the summer of
mail accommodations which they might
otherwise have had, and it is due them
that the facts should he stated
The time for summer schedule will
soon Toe over, but there is no reason what
ever why leaving time Of say 2.3O p. NJ.
should not be established for Fridays dur
ing the winter on both the jacksonville and
the Wilmington lines, which would assure
the mailing and receipt of the local papers
on the day of publication. The post office
department will cheerfully grant this if the
people wish it and the postmasters and mail
carriers agree To it, We think it would he
well for the people interested Ia talk about
this little, and the sooner the better On
our own part we have never spared hard
work or expense to accommodate the PEG
pie ON these two stage lines, and we shall
continue to do our best to serve their inter
ests and convenience.